RNFA Program. The peak in RN First Assistant training with a 6 day SutureStar Summit for. Nurse Practitioners in Surgery

Transcription

1 RNFA Program The peak in RN First Assistant training with a 6 day SutureStar Summit for Nurse Practitioners in Surgery The only RN First Assistant training on

2 Why are Nurse Practitioners choosing NIFA s new RNFA Program 4.3? At three in the morning in the middle of a complex surgery, a surgeon wants a highly skilled and competent RN First Assistant (RNFA), not an unprepared or unpracticed student. Mastery of surgical skills is the ultimate measure of a successful RNFA. This is especially true for new Nurse Practitioners in the first assisting role. Unfortunately, if the RNFA program you choose doesn t give you adequate hands-on surgical skills training, you could be stuck in the student mode for the rest of your career. The National Institute of First Assisting (NIFA), in collaboration with the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), recognized this problem and developed educational programs that raised the bar in RNFA training. Whether your goal is to be a self-employed, surgeon-employed, or facility-employed NP RNFA, you don t want to finish a program only to end up with entry-level results. Your success tomorrow will be commensurate with your training today. When looking into a program, ask how many hours of hands-on lab it offers, and will it include performing entire surgeries? Or, are hands-on skills training deferred to your clinical preceptor in the surgical setting? If the answer is the latter, consider the New England Journal of Medicine study (link provided on our home page). This study shows that expertise in wound closure skills cannot be obtained on-the-job, including during your RNFA internship. With NIFA s 6 Day SutureStar Summit, we guarantee to have you performing at expert levels before seeing your first patient as a NP/RNFA intern. Our new RN First Assistant Summit workshops are more than just a week of suture and tying. They are the equivalent of attending a surgical boot-camp. The Summits officially start on Sunday night with a formal presentation on RNFA reimbursement. Then its on to Monday for your first full day of basic-to-advanced wound closure. From that point on, you ll be immersed in simulated cases, cut-to-close, for the entire week. Along with a full week of multi-specialty surgeries, the SutureStar Summit Workshops also offer: Opening night seminar on RNFA reimbursement in every state NP/VIP Night for OR Fundamentals Optional Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting Workshop Optional Carotid Endarterectomy Workshop Optional Cesarean Section Workshop Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy classes Closing Award Ceremony All of this the comprehensive online portion and the extensive hands-on training is an exceptional value because upon completion of the NIFA program, an APN will be able to function competently and proficiently as a first assistant in surgery in any surgical specialty. Plus, because of our large faculty, during RNFA Program 4.3, you will be personally guided by one of our four highly experienced NP faculty members (such as Stephanie Kefer on the left) ensuring that the advanced practice role is fully integrated with the Registered Nurse First Assistant role. Guarantee: Since 1997, we ve made this offer: The NIFA RNFA Program will teach you to master the techniques of the nation s top RNFAs or we ll retrain you free-of-charge. And, we ve saved the best for last: Our 6-day SutureStar Summit Workshops will offer Stephanie L. Kefer you up to 30 times more suturing than most all other programs, and at an affordable tuition. Join the only skills-based RNFA Program specifically designed for NPs today! RN, MSN, FNP-BC, CNOR, RNFA I just wanted you all to know a little about the SutureStar Workshop. The course uses clinical simulation to teach complex information while incorporating psychomotor skills required in the operative setting. I was truly impressed with the grueling course. Rest assured you will learn and I think be pleased with your individual outcomes Steve Branham RN, MSN, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, CCRN Assistant Professor Texas Tech University I notice everything now. The instructor taught us to be involved as much as we can without stepping on toes. This past Monday the surgeon asked his assistant what type of suturing he was doing and she did not know. I said, vertical mattress stitch with alternating simple interrupted. Things like that keep happening since I've been back from the workshop and it gives me confidence when I am able to show my SKILLS. Kristi Hurt RN, ARNP 2

3 Comprehensive training for the hands, eyes and mind. RNFA Program Overview Your vehicle to a successful RNFA career! Online RNFA Home Study Program 4.3 Our easy to follow, RNFA Online LearningSystem is presented through a collaboration between NIFA and the College of Southern Nevada s accredited nursing program. It includes eight NIFA custom workbooks and coursework that focuses on expanded perioperative nursing concepts for nursing care to patients experiencing surgical intervention. Not only will you find our new distance learning software to be extremely user friendly, but practical. All secured exams can be taken online, up to three times and in your own home. The program includes our Suture & Tying handson lab for home study. Approximate length of online studies is 125 hours. The 6 Day SutureStar Summit Workshop You ve already read some of the reasons why the SutureStar Summit is a one-of-a-kind experience. Here you will learn the skills of the nation s top surgeons and RNFAs. While others may open books at class, you will be opening simulated patients, performing actual simulated surgeries cut to close. In the next few pages you will see the NIFA difference and why so many students choose this program. The goal is to completely understand the rhythm of surgery. Remember, this is more than a week of wound closure; you ll be performing complete surgeries, - not only as the RNFA, but also as the surgeon. A common question is: Should I schedule my Workshop only after all my 125 hours of studies are done? That would be the best case scenario and is strongly encouraged, however, if you can t, we have made concessions so that a student may attend a Summit while concurrently working on their home studies. Plus, at the end of the Workshop, NIFA will give you access to workshop review videos online. Supervised Clinical Internship Once you successfully complete the SutureStar Workshop and all coursework, you are ready for your supervised clinical Internship. This is 120 hours of first assisting experience that you will log at your own hospital. You ll need a surgeon(s) who will be your clinical sponsor(s) and will supervise your internship. This program is a surgeon student dominant model - meaning you only need a surgeon(s) to sign a sponsor form taking responsibility for your actions during your clinicals. The college does not require an agreement with facilities. However, if requested, we can arrange one at no charge (attempts past two will be charged a nominal fee). Best of all, during clinicals, you ll receive individual guidance by one of NIFA s four NP faculty members. Your formal RNFA Status recognized in all 50 states Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Certificate of Completion that awards you official RNFA status in all 50 states. Since, this program has been accepted by the Competency Credentialing Institute, (CCI) since 1998, qualified graduates may sit for the CRNFA or Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant title. Visit The RNAS-C alternative national certification at is available for AD, Diploma, BSN or new NPs who may not qualify for CRNFA. Always adhere to your State's scope of practice issues when performing in the RNFA role. 3 Who qualifies to enroll? AD, Diploma Nurse, BSN, MSN and APN from accredited programs. Call. Must be a graduate from an accredited advanced practice nurse program. APNs are not required to obtain certification in the operating room (CNOR) as are periop erative nurses. However, you must obtain accepted national certification in your specialty before graduating from the program. Licensed in the state where you will be logging your clinical internship. Have your own Malpractice Insurance or Professional Liability Policy that covers an NP in surgery. BLS/ACLS preferred. Must be current during clinical internship. Two letters of recommendation from surgeons. Call for any other prerequisites. Are you having problems getting credentialed in the NP first assistant role? By receiving your RNFA training from NIFA, the only RN First Assistant program on AORN and the ANA, surgical services committees trust you have been properly trained in this vital role. Exclusive for NP Students! AORN Video Library Series If you are new to the OR, as a NIFA student you can receive an online video presentation of OR fundamentals the AORN Video Library administered by the Cine-Med Corp for only $295 with enrollment. This elaborate media presentation was designed to teach you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in today s operating room. Get started today! Program awards 199 CEs. NIFA is a licensed Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP11471.

4 Develop Wound Closure Skills At Home Start With Our Suture & Tying Practice Lab for Home Study When you enroll, you will immediately receive NIFA s acclaimed Suture& Tying Workshop for home study. With this powerful workshop you will develop excellent wound closure skills in your own home, at your own pace, before coming to the SutureStar Summit. This uniquely effective online instructional production gives you everything you need to learn wound closure techniques used by the nation s top surgeons and RNFAs. You are going to learn techniques that will make you look and feel like an expert in wound closure in the comfort of your own home, and at your own pace. Unlike regimented classroom settings, you will not feel hurried, rushed, or embarrassed in front of classmates. You can review the presentation as many times as you like until you perfectly understand every concept and technique that you are studying. So be sure you take your time and get it right. Along with the online video presentation, NIFA will provide you with your own Suture & Tying Practice Lab and DVD. NIFA s lab was specially designed to help you develop the psychomotor skills and hand/eye coordination surgeons require of well-trained and highly skilled RNFAs. You will be amazed at how easy and quickly you learn and retain over twenty-three wound closure skills and techniques from this custom-made surgical lab. The online presentation and home surgical lab give you the basis for many of the techniques you learn at the SutureStar Summit week. A suture and tying Rubric is provided to help you advance to at least intermediate levels (required) before attending the 6 day, hands-on, surgical simulation portion of this dynamic training program. To Enroll Needle holder fingers-in technique Needle holder palming technique Forceps for tissue handling Forceps for needle handling Suture scissors proper suture cutting technique Proper needle driving technique Interrupted simple stitch Two-handed knot tying right & left handed Figure-of-eight stitch Horizontal mattress stitch Vertical mattress stitch First assisting techniques for wound closure Simple running stitch Running locking stitch Running horizontal mattress stitch Running vertical mattress stitch Instrument tying technique Free-tie on a vessel One-handed knot tying left & right-handed The buried knot technique Multi-layered wound closure technique Visit First, you ll receive the best wound closure presentation ever produced! Within 3-5 working days after enrolling you ll receive: Online Suture & Tying instructional presentation includes 23 basic to advanced techniques Suture & Tying Lab and Carrying Case Needle Holder, Forceps and Scissors (Optional Purchase) Knot Tying Trainer Single and Multi-Layered Abdominal Simulators Custom Suture and Tying Workbook Sutures provided by NIFA 4

5 Learn Essential Crossover Skill Sets! The SutureStar Summit Workshop Obtain 54 hours of Simulated Training! You ll Perform Cases as the RNFA and the Surgeon At the Workshop you will be immersed in surgical cases for three days applying the skills you learned at home. You will concentrate more on mastering skills, such as palming instruments, how to consistently instrument tie square knots, how to approximate heavy tissues, suture around vessels, how to follow your surgeons during a simple running or a running locking stitch, how to deep tie, how to slide a square knot (every time), how to work with monofilament sutures and how to tie off a pedicle using a reel or spool. And, you ll master key techniques in most all specialties. You ll receive over 54 hours of real training for real results! During all six days you will be performing actual surgical procedures on simulated human patients. According to a recent study by the New England Journal of Medicine, even animal labs can t come close to these life-like models in facilitating the skills learning process. We have re-created the human anatomy with the meticulous detail required to perform a surgical procedure step-by-step. You can take your time and master your new skills in a pressure-free, risk- free learning environment. You will have the time of your life performing two real surgical procedures each day, one as the RNFA and a second as the surgeon. Role-playing as the surgeon gives you the surgeon s unique perspective and increases your anticipatory skills dramatically. You get to know what a surgeon needs and expects from a well-trained and skilled RNFA. With the NIFA training method you can practice your new skills within the same surgical context that you would use in real-life. This is the most enjoyable and highly engaging way you could ever master these skills. By the end of Summit, we guarantee you ll be performing like an seasoned expert, not a new NP RNFA student - or we ll retrain you FREE. All Specialties Benefit Learning These Skill Sets! Whether your specialty is General, Vascular, Thoracic, OB/GYN, Orthopedics, Oncology, Neuro, Plastics, Cardiovascular, Urology or Reconstructive surgery - all successful RNFAs have most of the same Surgical Skill Sets in common. We have isolated the surgical skills you need to perform in surgery like an experienced and expert RNFA, regardless of your specialty. These skills are valuable, in fact essential, and crossover to nearly every surgical specialty and subspecialty! You spend a full 6 days performing surgeries or techniques that focus on these crossover skill sets so that you can prepare for a lifetime career as a highly competent and successful RNFA. "NIFA rocks!! I am working with other RNFA graduates from other programs and they don t have half the expertise that we were required to possess before passing. Your hands-on workshop is worth it's weight in gold!!! I tell everyone I know how great NIFA is. Thanks for your continued support." Lisa Madala RN, NP 2012 & 2013 Schedule Atlanta, GA. SutureStarXpress Janurary 11-13, 2013 SutureStarSummit January 14-19, 2013 SutureStarXpress August 16-18, 20 SutureStarSummit August 19-24, 2013 Chicago, IL. SutureStarXpress July 13-15, 2012 SutureStarSummit July 16-21, 2012 SutureStarXpress May 3-5, 2013 SutureStarSummit May 6-11, 2013 SutureStarXpress November 8-10, 2013 SutureStarSummit November 11-16, 2013 Dallas, TX. SutureStarXpress September 7-9, 2012 SutureStarSummit September10-15, 2012 SutureStarXpress September 13-15, 2013 SutureStarSummit September 16-21, 2013 Denver, CO. SutureStarXpress November 30-December 2, 2012 SutureStarSummit Dec. 3-8, 2012 SutureStarXpress February 15-17, 2013 SutureStarSummit February 18-23, 2013 SutureStarXpress July 12-14, 2013 SutureStarSummit July 15-20, 2013 SutureStarXpress December 6-8, 2013 SutureStarSummit December 9-14, 2013 Philadelphia, PA. SutureStarXpress October 5-7, 2012 SutureStarSummit October 8-13, 2012 SutureStarXpress April 19-21, 2013 SutureStarSummit April 22-27, 2013 SutureStarXpress October 11-13, 2013 SutureStarSummit October 14-19, 2013 San Antonio, TX. SutureStarXpress March 29-31, 2013 SutureStarSummit April 1-6, 2013 Important: All new NPs without substantial OR experience must attend a 6 Day Workshop. Call NIFA for eligibility. If you work exclusively in one surgical specialty, why would you enroll in a multi-specialty program? There are no shortcuts. All formal RNFA Programs are required to teach a multi-specialty curriculum and be based on the full content of the Core Curriculum for the RN First Assistant by the AORN. However, this program allows Nurse Practitioners to finish their clinical internship in the specialty(s) of your choice. 5

6 Monday Day One - Begin with Basic to Advanced Suture and Tying! You ll start off with your instructor reviewing and building upon the skills you developed with your Suture & Tying Workshop for home study. On this first day together, you will acquire numerous surgical techniques and skills that were not covered in your home-study workshop. As you consider the checklist of 33 skill sets to the right, don t be intimidated by the volume of new surgical skills you ll attempt to learn in one day. You will be repeating these techniques so many times throughout the week that you will actually find them hard to forget. And because we use the remarkably effective four levels of learning and role playing, training method - learning these skills will be incredible fun. They will be yours to apply in real life whenever you need them. We guarantee it, or we will retrain you free of charge. Nurse Practitioner NP/VIP night: The Summits make sure that the growing population of nurse practitioners entering the operating room are comfortable in their new perioperative setting. So, on Monday nights, new NPs are assessed on their knowledge of OR fundamentals, patient positioning, instrumentation and much more. I really have to tell you that the training I received was great! It taught me so much. The doctors really love it that I have so much knowledge. They don't even want to suture their patients anymore. Also, their patients love the closures of their incision sites. One doctor even called me yesterday (he had his patient in the office) and wanted me to come to his office. The patient stated, That nurse really is great, I had a ugly scar before and now it is beautiful. Now, that was a great feeling! Mary Corsi, RNFA Graduate Basic Two-handed knot tying left-handed Two-handed knot tying making a flat throw under varying circumstances One-handed knot tying right-handed One-handed knot tying making a flat throw under varying circumstances Advanced Two-handed tying when the surgeon places the stitch right-handed Two-handed tying when the surgeon places the stitch left-handed Two-handed tying timing and teamwork Two-handed tying keeping strand out of surgeon s way Two-handed tying tying the long end of the strand to the short end One-handed tying when the surgeon places the stitch left-handed One-handed tying when the surgeon places the stitch right-handed One-handed tying timing and teamwork One-handed tying keeping the strand out of the surgeon s way One-handed tying tying the short end of the strand to the long end Two-handed deep tying a success formula for securely tying off a pedicle Two-handed deep tying getting a flat throw when deep tying Two-handed deep tying right-handed Two-handed deep tying left-handed Two-handed deep tying how to determine which hand to push with Two-handed deep tying pushing technique Two-handed deep tying using more than one push to get the knot down Two-handed deep tying successful and smooth transitions from one throw to the next One-handed deep tying getting a flat throw when deep tying One-handed deep tying left-handed One-handed deep tying right-handed One-handed deep tying how to determine which hand to push with One-handed deep tying pushing technique One-handed deep tying using more than one push to get the knot down One-handed deep tying successful and smooth transitions from one throw to the next Flashing and removing clamps right-handed without readjusting your grip to put your fingers in the rings Flashing and removing clamps left-handed without readjusting your grip to put your fingers in the rings Smoothly turning instruments around in your hand the step-by-step method Proper left-handed suture cutting technique 6

7 Tuesday Day Two - 32 New Techniques The first full procedure you ll perform is a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH). Like the other procedures we ve chosen, you will learn many crossover surgical skills and techniques with this case. You will also be required to apply many of the techniques you learned form the previous day. TAH day teaches you how to handle heavy, viable tissues and how to suture around vessels (Ortho students will appreciate this), as well as the importance of doing so effectively. You will also learn surgeon s throws and start mastering two-handed knot tying techniques. Inevitably, your surgeon may request that you tie two-handed at some point, no matter what your specialty. This day also gets you more involved in an all important technique - the running locking stitch. Following your surgeon during this technique is an underrated skill, but so important to the flow of any procedure. Jeremy is GREAT! I am an Adult Nurse Practitioner without any OR experience. I researched several courses and found that NIFA is the only course which provides a focus for the NP without OR experience. Prior to attending the SutureStar Workshop I felt intimidated that I would not be able to keep up with the experience the rest of the class had in the OR. On the first day of class Jeremy Gofton provided the opportunity for each of us to learn more about each other and shared about himself. As we began suturing and tying using our simulators I found the videos had prepared me well and my confidence grew. When we began to work together on the surgeries I found that each member of the class brought different expertise to each surgery and Jeremy encouraged us to share these with our fellow classmates. The simulators were accurate to the clinical anatomy. Jeremy was very, very patient with each of us, allowing for an optimal learning environment. He continually provided constructive and positive feedback. I was impressed he identified our individual weaknesses and strengths and paired each of us with a different classmate each day to encourage us to learn from each other as well as from his instruction. The hands-on experience was extremely valuable, and Jeremy provided as much time as we needed. He offered for us to repeat a surgery or spend additional time on a specific skill with his assistance after every class. The relaxed encouraging environment truly provided an optimal opportunity to learn as much as possible. I have had many, many instructors in the professional setting as well as the collegiate setting and Jeremy is one of the very best! I believe I am well prepared to enter the OR for the clinical portion of this course. I have been very impressed with the instruction and customer service from NIFA and would recommend it to anyone who wants to perform above the standard in the OR. Thank you for your interest in the feed back from a student. Donna Michele Prichard NP RNFA Student SutureStar Summits were designed specifically for new NPs! Making a Pfannenstiel incision Determining the incision landmarks Proper use of the scalpel Identifying abdominal wall layers Providing wound layer exposure Proper use of the scissors and forceps Sharp dissecting technique Creating planes between tissues Entering the abdominal cavity without injuring the underlying viscera Placing the self-retaining retractor without injuring the viscera or restricting blood supply to the wound edges Providing exposure to the operative site Identifying the uterus and surrounding structures Uterine manipulation techniques How to limit excess motion and avoid switching hands to accomplish assisting tasks Properly using the Heaney needle driver Transfixation stitch Two-handed deep tying right and left- handed, tying with one hand and pushing with the other Tying behind a clamp when the tip is pointed away from you Surgeon s knot Making a window in tissue to isolate the vascular pedicle Double clamping and cutting tissue spooning technique Heaney stitch Tie on a pass Modified Heaney stitch Smoothly transferring instruments and suture strands between the operators Blunt dissecting technique Safely clamping into tissue without making a window Simple stick-ties Anchor stitch Running locking stitch whip stitch for hemostasis Following the stitch Burying the knot on the skin stitch is as deep as possible and away from the apex 7

8 Wednesday P L A N N I N G F O R Y O U R F U T U R E Day Three - 18 New Techniques! It s state-of-the-art day! More than ever before, the seemingly endless implementation of endoscopic surgery demands that RN First Assistants understand how to work effectively in these challenging conditions. During laparoscopic cholecystectomy day, each student will have the exciting opportunity to perform insufflation, trocar placement, cystic duct and cystic artery clipping (watch out for the common bile duct). Its time to dissect the gallbladder off of the liver bed, and when you re finished remove the gallbladder through the umbilical port prior to closing. Another cut-toclose procedure and now you get to do it again as the surgeon! Verres needle placement Blunt port placement Dilating port placement Cutting port placement Direct visualization port placement Translumination Scope handling with 0 and 30 degree lenses Laparoscopic instrument articulation and selection Blunt laparoscopic dissection Sharp laparoscopic dissection Laparoscopic clip placement Port closure Laparoscopic retraction Tying off subcutaneous bleeders Multi-layered sub-costal wound closure Keith needle closure Drain stitch Gallbladder extraction techniques How much suture do our SutureStar Summit Workshops need? So much that we bought our own machines! There is only one way to get really good at the table - practice, practice, practice. In the January 2011 classes alone, we spoiled our students by using over 20,050 sutures during their simulated surgeries. To fill their special suture needs, NIFA has teamed with the world s largest independent suture manufacturer, BG Sulzle, to provide our students all the suture they need to achieve SutureStar Status. We have even built a new warehouse that not only builds all of our simulators, but produces all the suture a happy class would need... including pop-offs! Interested in national Certification as an assistant? Currently, certification as an NP/RNFA is optional and voluntary in all states with an official written RNFA scope of practice. This RNFA Program is accepted by the CCI and our qualified NP graduates may sit for the CRNFA. However, it is understandable that most new NPs in surgery cannot sit for CRNFA due to the CCI s 2000 logged hour requirement. If that is the case for you, NIFA is the only RNFA program that has obtained alternative certification acceptance for its NP graduates found at Call an RNFA consultant to verify your qualifications:

9 Thursday Day Four - 13 New RNFA Skills! Today, you and the other students are really getting into it! You will be called upon to utilize your new surgical skills by performing an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair. Many surgeons will agree that a poor assistant can make even a great surgeon look bad. You will learn many tricks to consistently move the case along and become an asset to your surgeon and patient. Discover how the RNFA efficiently works in a deep cavity; how to deep tie, and; how to work with monofilament suture effectively. You will also learn advanced techniques such as palming and suturing without handling your needle with tissue forceps (unnecessary steps costs your surgeon, patient and you, valuable time), running and following delicate monofilament sutures, keeping the proper tension, and how to keep your cross clamp time to a minimum. By now, you re not only learning the AAA, but making friends for life! Cross-clamping major vessels Incising major vessels Figure-of-eight stitches for hemostasis Needle driving technique in very deep tissues Vascular anastomosis suturing technique - Parachute Keeping the knot on the outside of the anastomosis Providing exposure when suturing the graft Providing exposure when suturing the vessel Tying with monofilament suture Suturing technique that avoids prying up plaque and creating an embolism Repairing leaks using pledgets the plug technique Repairing leaks using pledgets the bolster technique Backhanded suturing technique...i improved 100% and my OR circulating staff noticed - and they don t impress easily! Judy Glann Mitchell ACNP-BC EVH Optional Workshop: All students will have the option to attend an Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting (EVH) workshop using the VasoView 6 system (typically presented Wednesday night). This workshop is preceeded by approximately 4 hours of online coursework. Only $95. (Normal registration is $295.) Landmark identification Blunt dissection and preparation of Greater Saphenous Vein (GSV) Harvesting tricks and secrets VasoView 6 and Hemo-Pro handling techniques Back table handling of GSV and preparation for grafting I am an NP with OR experience. Which should I attend, a 3 day workshop or 6 Day Summit? The answer depends on your level of experience, competencies, and in many cases time and funds. With a class of sixteen (sizes vary), 6 Day Summit Workshop students could use up to 10,000 sutures, whereas with the 3 Day Workshop students will utilize half that amount. With either choice, you are still ahead of the industry, since you will be suturing times more than most all other programs. However, understandably, for new NPs, the 6 day Workshop is mandatory (also strongly recommended for new perioperative nurses). It will allow you more time to take in and absorb all of your new found knowledge for the optimum learning experience. 9

10 Friday Day Five - Learn Another 17 New RNFA Crossover Skills! Today, you will perform a Transverse Colon Resection without staplers. You ll get the chance to perform a lot of one handed sliding square knots. As a matter of fact, between the RNFA and the surgeon roles, you ll be placing at least 60 sliders. This lab is stitch-placement intensive. You will have to place concise, delicate stitches (approximately 3-4 millimeters apart from each other) and learn how to use fine taper needles to your benefit. Balancing tissue is vital in all specialties, so be assured you will use these skills in everyday practice. This day is also rich in one-handed tying techniques. Altogether, you will be throwing at least 300 throws of one handed sutures to help you develop the muscle memory required to perform consistently in your RNFA internship. Your surgeon preceptor will thank you for that. Once again, you will be working on mastering the intricacies of sliding square knots. All specialties need to know how to throw a sliding square knot in a closure! Cesarean-Section Optional Workshop All students will have the option to attend a CS workshop. Each student will perform all the steps from the initial incision through closure of the Pfannenstiel wound. This workshop is preceeded by approximately 4 hours of online coursework. Only $95. (Normal registration is $295.) Typically held on Tuesday night. This program has been excellent and has exceeded my expectations. I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner without any OR experience, and although I am nervous, I feel confident that NIFA has well prepared me to enter the OR. I appreciated that most of the lecture content we could do on our own and that my time at the SutureStar Workshop in Las Vegas was spent on hands-on training. The simulated models were great to work with and Jeremy was an amazing instructor. Prior to attending the class, I felt extremely intimidated since I did not have any OR experience, but I soon realized that the video and workbooks prepared me and gave me a good foundation. Throughout the 6 days, Jeremy was able to give us constructive and directional criticisms. I thank Jeremy for his patience and keen eye in identifying what we needed to change to succeed, I thank Emily for responding so quickly to my numerous s and I thank NIFA for putting together such an incredible experience. Erica Faafiu PNP, RNFA Graduate Keeping scissors at the ready while dissecting with another clamp Sliding square knots Organizing multiple clamps One-hand tying for speed tips of clamps facing you, left handed Clamp flashing and removal left handed Sharp dissection of tissue away from around the resection site Clamping and cutting the bowel One-handed tying tying with one hand and pushing with the other Dissection of mesocolon Deep tying a vessel simultaneously with the surgeon Large bowel anastomosis How best to assist during anastomosis Following suture while maintaining exposure Making a secure closure of the apex Lembert stitch - (serosal stitch) Connell stitch - (mucosal stitch) Repairing an internal hernia Being an RNFA allows me to go assist on surgeries on my own patients and bring in more revenue. I am planning to start delivering babies again soon, too. I hope (look forward) to doing more c-sections while I am in labor and delivery. It just rounds out the whole patient care cycle and makes me more valuable to the doctors I work for. Also I can explain things in the office better to patients. Stephanie Beasley, CNM, NP 10

11 Saturday Day Six - The last day adds an additional 18 cross-over skills to add to your new professional portfolio. On the final day of this intensive six-day workshop, it s time to bring it all together with the Open Reduction Internal Fixation of the Femur (ORIF) - utilizing many of the suturing techniques from the entire week. You ll learn the fundamentals of bone reduction/fixation and safe techniques for drilling while protecting surrounding structures. Each student will achieve proper alignment and reduction, and secure the femur with plates and screws. Today we ve also introduced some special techniques for approximating heavy tissues without help from any extra hands. This procedure rounds out a tremendous week of professional growth for Nurse Practitioners that you, your surgeons and of course, your patients, will appreciate for many years to come. Carotid Endarterectomy Optional Workshop This surgery s purpose is to remove plaque buildup in the carotid arteries. It has been proven to be 3 times more effective than treatment with medicine alone in preventing stroke. This workshop is preceeded by approximately 4 hours of online coursework. Only $95. (Normal registration is $295.) Typically held on Friday night. Posterolateral thigh incision Determining the incision landmarks Identifying the layers of the thigh Periosteal incision Periosteal stripping Open reduction of the bone fragments Maintaining reduction during procedure Applying plate to bone, securing with reduction clamp Safely drilling bone Screw placement with power driver Placing screws by hand (hand torquing) Dynamic compression of the fracture site Running locking stitch on compromised tissue Modified simple running stitch Subcuticular stitch for skin closure Smead-Jones Trauma stitch Running Vertical Mattress Loop-lock instrument tying Note: Call for Carotid Endarterectomy Skills List NIFA is the only program with RNFA davinci robotic classes. When Saturday s sessions are finished, students attend a Closing Ceremony to receive their Certificates of Completion as SutureStars. Call us at to join the NIFA Team! 11

12 5 Easy Steps To Enroll And Start Your RNFA Career Today! 1 Call us Mon.-Thurs. 7:30am-4pm, Fri. 7:30am-3pm MST to have all your questions thoroughly answered and to enroll over the phone. To expedite the process, you can fax us your Enrollment Form to start immediately and reserve a seat. 2 Your Suture & Tying Practice Lab will be shipped out via UPS the following Monday and the Education Department will begin processing you officially into the online program. You can expect to be completely set up with your online studies within three to four working days. 3 Schedule a SutureStar Summit date and start your Online program today to complete as much coursework as possible before class. Summits fill quickly, so call your counselor about available dates before attempting to schedule time off work. 4 After completing the SutureStar Summit and your 125 hours of required course work, you may start your 120 hour internship with your designated sponsoring surgeon(s). Industry tip: NIFA students tend to complete their internships faster than other program students due to our intensive hands-on curriculum. 5 Congratulations! When you have completed the entire program you will receive a Certification of Completion from NIFA and the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) designating your formal RNFA status recognized in all 50 states, awarding you 3 college credits and surgical CEs (note: CE hours can be used towards CNOR and CRNFA). RNFA Program is offered through NIFA and the College of Southern Nevada s accredited nursing program. To find Summit availability call: Visit / info@nifa.com NIFA, E. Caley Ave Ste 108, Centennial CO How would your life change if You got into surgery - just for you? Even though you were new, you felt comfortable and confident first assisting on even complex surgical procedures? You were the recognized authority on NP in the first assisting role at your hospital? All your surgeons and peers admired your expert level of surgical skills? You were sought-after by surgeons who depend on your reliable and competent assistance? Your patients experienced better outcomes because of your advanced surgical skills? After each case, the surgeon shakes your hand out of appreciation and respect? You were at the top of the NP/RNFA field? Your value increased dramatically because of your capabilities and your status? You enjoy your NP/RNFA career so much that you happily did those late night cases? Every day you went to work with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride, knowing that you are the best? This is the life of our NP/RNFA graduates as the letters and comments in this brochure testify! It is easy to see why our RNFA training can get you where you want to go just like it has for so many others. The quality and effectiveness of the training speaks for itself. Why not join our winning surgical team now? Don t put your success or career on hold! To speak to an RNFA expert education consultant call: